Blueberry plant named &#39;FL03-228&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘FL03-228’ is a new and distinct southern highbush blueberry ( Vaccinium corymbosum  L.) variety distinguished by a very low chilling requirement, tolerance to fungal leaf diseases that cause defoliation, and fruit that are large, firm, and sweet, with a small, dry picking scar.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of European Community Plant BreedersRights Appl. No. 2014/0349, filed Feb. 14, 2014, herein incorporated byreference in its entirety.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Vaccinium corymbosum L.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘FL03-228’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct hybrid variety ofsouthern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) named ‘FL03-228’.‘FL03-228’ is a blueberry clone distinguished by its low chillingrequirement, vigorous, upright-spreading bush, and sweet, firm berriesthat ripen in a concentrated period from late-March through April whengrown under evergreen conditions. Several hundred plants of ‘FL03-228’have been propagated by softwood stem cuttings in Gainesville, FL USAand near Lalla Mimouna, Morocco, and the resulting plants have all beenphenotypically indistinguishable from the original plant. Contrast ismade to ‘Jewel’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,807), an important varietyworldwide southern highbush blueberry production. The claimed plant isimportant because it is has larger and firmer fruit than ‘Jewel’ duringa similar harvest period, and it is more resistant to fungal leafdiseases than ‘Jewel’.

‘FL03-228’ originated as a seedling from a cross between the proprietaryparent ‘FL00-30’ (unpatented) as the female (seed) parent and ‘Farthing’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,341) as the male (pollen) parent. This cross wasmade as part of a breeding program in a greenhouse at Gainesville, Fla.USA, in February 2000. The seedling was planted in a high-density fieldnursery in May 2001, and the first fruit were evaluated in April 2002.After the second year of fruiting in the field, in the spring of 2003,‘FL03-228’ was asexually propagated by softwood stem cuttings in Citra,Fla., and an experimental 15-plant test plot was established as part ofa variety test at Windsor, Fla. USA, in January 2004. ‘FL03-228’ was notrepropagated for further testing in Florida, but based on the growth,yield, and fruit quality of this plot, ‘FL03-228’ was repropagated bysoftwood stem cuttings and experimental test plots ranging from 50 toseveral hundred plants were established near Lalla Mimouna, Morocco.These plots have been observed during flowering and ripening each year,and no mutations or off-type plants have been observed.

‘FL03-228’ differs from the proprietary parent ‘FL00-30’ (unpatented) inthat ‘FL03-228’ has a greater tendency toward evergreeness and earliermaturing fruit.

‘FL03-228’ differs from the parent ‘Farthing’ (U.S. Plant Patent No.PP19,341) in that ‘FL03-228’ has a greater tendency toward evergreeness,is earlier maturing, and has better blue color. ‘FL03-228’ differs fromthe commercial variety ‘Jewel’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. P11,807), animportant variety planted worldwide for early production, in that‘FL03-228’ has high yields of large, firm fruit during an earlier,concentrated harvest period. ‘FL03-228’ also is less susceptible tofungal leaf diseases that cause defoliation than ‘Jewel’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Blueberry variety ‘FL03-228’ exhibits outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics when grown under evergreen horticultural practices inMorocco, including: (1) a vigorous, upright-spreading bush; (2) earlyripening (50% ripe berries in Morocco around March 30); and (3) large,sweet, low-acid, firm berries with a small, dry picking scar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical bush, flower, and fruitcharacteristics for ‘FL03-228’. Colors shown are as true as can bereasonably reproduced by photographic procedures and may differ fromthose cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes thecolors of ‘FL03-228’.

FIG. 1—Shows several clusters of opening ‘FL03-228’ flowers during theearly stages of flowering in March.

FIG. 2—Shows several clusters of ‘FL03-228’ berries during the fruitripening season.

FIG. 3—Shows a close-up of harvested ‘FL03-228’ berries.

FIG. 4—Shows a close-up of mature ‘FL03-228’ fruit with a scale bar.

FIG. 5—Shows a close-up of ‘FL03-228’ leaves with a scale bar.

FIG. 6—Shows several two-year-old ‘FL03-228’ plants during thevegetative growth period near Lalla Mimouna, Morocco.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘FL03-228’. The data that define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inLalla Mimouna, Morocco. The plant history was taken on a plot of 50seven-year-old plants growing in a commercial field near Lalla Mimouna,Morocco. Certain characteristics may vary with plant age. ‘FL03-228’ hasnot been observed under all possible environmental conditions, and themeasurements given may vary when grown in different environments. Wheremeans are given, the sample size was 20. Color descriptions are based onThe Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart by The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, Fifth Edition, 2007. When the RHS colordesignations differ from the accompanying photographs, the RHS colordesignations are accurate.

-   Phenotypic Description of Vaccinium corymbosum L. (‘FL03-228’)-   Plant:    -   -   Plant vigor.—Medium.        -   Growth habit.—Upright-spreading.        -   Flower bud density (number) along flowering twigs in            March.—High.        -   Twigginess.—Medium.        -   Tendency toward evergreenness.—High.        -   Productivity.—In trials in Morocco, ‘FL03-228’ was very            productive, with higher marketable yields than ‘Jewel’ (U.S.            Plant Pat. No. 11,807).        -   Chilling requirement.—‘FL03-228’ has performed best under            evergreen production conditions where chilling is not            calculated. ‘FL03-228’ flowered and leafed well in areas            receiving an average of 300 chill hours (0 to 7° C.) when            trialed in Florida, USA as a deciduous plant.        -   Cold hardiness.—‘FL03-228’ has not been grown in temperate            climates with extremely cold winter temperatures. Plants            have survived winter freezes of -6° C. with minimal damage.        -   Ease of propagation.—‘FL03-228’ has only been propagated            from softwood stem cuttings, where the rooting percentage is            typically comparable to other varieties.-   Trunk and branches:    -   -   Suckering tendency.—Medium. Three-year-old plants typically            have 5 to 7 major canes arising from a crown 30 cm in            diameter.        -   Surface texture (of strong, 6-month-old shoots observed in            march).—Smooth.        -   Surface texture (of 3-year-old and older wood).—Rough.        -   Color of new twigs observed in the field.—Yellow-green            N144D.        -   Color of 3-year-old, rough-textured canes.—Brown N200B.        -   Internode length (strong, upright shoots measured in            march).—Mean of 23.4 mm.-   Leaves:    -   -   Length (including petiole, from tip of petiole to end of            blade).—Mean of 6.6 cm.        -   Width (at widest point).—Mean of 3.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic, with a rounded base and acute tip.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Green N137A. Lower surface:            Yellow-green 148B.        -   Pubescence.—Upper surface of leaves: Absent. Lower surface            of leaves: Absent. Margins: Absent.        -   Relative time of leafing versus flowering.—When grown as an            evergreen plant, leafing is delayed relative to flowering.-   Flowers:    -   -   Arrangement.—Flowers are arranged alternately along a short,            leafless, deciduous branch.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Shape.—Urceolate.        -   Flowering period.—The bloom period when observed under            evergreen production in Morocco is from January to February.        -   Cluster (tight, medium, loose).—Medium.        -   Number of flowers per cluster.—Mean of 4.7.        -   Pedicel.—Length at time of anthesis: Mean of 7.2 mm. Color            at time of anthesis: Yellow-green 150C with Greyed-red 179C            on sun-exposed side.        -   Peduncle.—Length at time of anthesis: Highly variable, mean            of 12.6 mm. Color at time of anthesis: Yellow-green 154D            with Red 53B on sun-exposed side.        -   Calyx.—Surface texture: Smooth and waxy. Diameter: Mean of            6.3 mm. Color: Green 139C to Yellow-green 144D on tips of            calyx lobes.        -   Corolla.—Diameter: Mean of 8.3 mm. Length (from pedicel            attachment point to corolla tip excluding the pedicel): Mean            of 11.3 mm. Aperture diameter: Mean of 4.5 mm. Texture:            Smooth. Color: White 155D.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Style.—Length (top of ovary to stigma tip): Mean of 10.4 mm.            Color: Yellow-green 150C. Location of tip of stigma relative            to lip of the corolla — Stigma tip is approximately 1 mm            below the corolla lip.        -   Anthers.—Color: Greyed-orange 163B. Pollen — Abundance of            shed: High. Color: Yellow-white 158A.        -   Self-fruitfulness.—Low to medium. Planting in field            configurations that promote cross fertilization with other            southern highbush varieties is recommended for all southern            highbush blueberry plants.-   Fruit: Mean date of 50% harvest near Lalla Mimouna, Morocco is March    30.    -   -   Diameter of calyx aperture on mature berry.—Mean of 6.0 mm.        -   Size and shape of calyx lobes on mature berry.—small to            medium lobes, erect. Medium calyx basin.        -   Pedicel length on ripe berry.—Mean of 12.4 mm.        -   Detachment force for ripe berries (easy, medium,            hard).—Medium.        -   Number of berries per cluster.—Mean of 4.7.-   Berry:    -   -   Cluster (tight, medium, loose).—Medium to tight.        -   Weight (on well-pruned plants).—Mean of 2.9 g.        -   Height.—Mean of 14.1 mm.        -   Width.—Mean of 18.9 mm.        -   Shape.—Oblate, with small fruit tending toward round.        -   Surface color of mature berries ripe on the            plant.—Violet-blue 98D.        -   Surface color of ripe berry after polishing.—Greyed-purple            N186A.        -   Immature berry color, with bloom.—Greyed-green 194C.        -   Immature berry color without bloom.—Yellow-green 144B.        -   Surface wax.—Medium. The surface wax on ‘FL03-228’ has only            moderate persistence.        -   Pedicel scar.—Small and dry. Mean of 2.2 mm.        -   Firmness.—Very firm.        -   Flavor.—Sweet, good sugar:acid balance.        -   Texture.—Firm, juicy, small seeds, and no stone cells            present.-   Seeds:    -   -   Color of dried seeds.—Greyed-orange N167A.        -   Length of well-developed dried seed.—Mean of 2.3 mm.        -   Width of well-developed dried seed.—Mean of 1.2 mm.-   Use: ‘FL03-228’ produces southern highbush blueberries suitable for    fresh markets. ‘FL03-228’ has performed best in trials when grown    under an evergreen management system.-   Resistance to diseases, insects, and mites: ‘FL03-228’ has grown    vigorously and shows excellent bush survival when grown under    protected cultivation in an evergreen management system. ‘FL03-228’    appears to have excellent resistance to the fungal species that    cause fall leaf spots. Resistance of ‘FL03-228’ to fungal leaf    spots, is greater than that of ‘Jewel’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,807).

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct southern highbush blueberryplant named ‘FL03-228’, as illustrated and described herein.